rectangle squared – a quilt block tutorial

Thanks for all the comments about my latest Innocent Crush quilt. I had several requests for measurements, so I’ve put together a quick tutorial showing how to make up the block that makes up this quilt.

First, a quick drawing showing the unfinished measurements (for those of you who want to skip the rest of the tutorial!) –

This block is a great one for using fat quarters, and I think it works best with non-directional prints, since the blocks end up turned in many different directions when you put together the quilt top. For my Innocent Crush quilt, I used fat quarters of 11 different prints (all the prints from the Charmed palette).

To start, square up the long edge of one of your fat quarters and cut a strip 3.25″ wide. You’ll want to cut this strip along the long side of the fat quarter, which means you’ll have a length of approximately 22″. Cut a strip of solid white (or your solid of choice) that’s 1.5″ wide and the same length as your printed strip (in this case, about 22″).

Sew the white strip to the long side of the printed fabric and iron.

Cut this strip into 7″ pieces. You’ll get 3 pieces from each strip.

Repeat with your other printed fabrics. Additionally, cut a second strip from each printed fabric that’s also 3.25″ wide (3.25″ x 22″). Subcut into 3.25″ squares. While you’re at it, cut additional strips of white fabric 1.5″ wide by 3.25″ in length.

Select two printed squares and sew together with a white strip separating them. Iron seams.

Make as many additional blocks as you’d like for your desired quilt size and lay them out to your liking, alternating the block orientation to create your desired design. Add sashing between the blocks and admire your lovely new quilt top! (sashing between my blocks measures 1.5″ in width)

As always, let me know if you have any questions, and if you make a quilt or quilt blocks from this tutorial, please consider adding your photos to the FITF Flickr group!

This is such a great quilt. Are you then doing all the rest of the sashing in strips? I have such a hard time with strips…even with pointers I’ve read on Sew Mama Sew I always end up with a “pull” to one side. Need practice I guess!

Oh thank you! I *literally* dreamt about trying to make this quilt after I saw it the other day (although in my dream there were all kinds of other crazy things going on too). I love the look of your quilt and can’t wait to give it a try.

Thank you! This is one of those quilts that inspired love at first sight for me … I’ve returned to your original post over and over again and am thrilled with your tutorial. I can’t wait to give this one a try!

Hi thanks for the great tut. I have some pre-cut Japanese fabrics that are 4″ and wondered what to do with them – I bought cream for the sashing and have some navy, brown and burgundy meterage that fits in with the pre-cuts. I have started cutting and will show you when it is finished. Thanks for giving the kick up the backside to get sewing again. I have too much going on and was stressing about it – I needed to sew so the stress went or lessens a little.

I am absolutely in love with this quilt, and have decided it will be my next project. I love the symmetry, I love the white sashing – it’s all just gorgeous. Thanks so much for providing the dimensions. I really can’t wait to start this one!

Thank you for the tutorial Ashley! You have such a good eye on color and design. It looks simple yet stunning with the layout and color combination
I will put this on my to do list for baby #2 due this Summer

I love the quilt…and wanted a cute pattern for my granddaughter’s first quilt…but, am I crazy? Are the measurements correct in the drawing? I can’t make it work, in my head…some of the sizes HAVE to be for before they are sewn, and some for after???? Please straighten me out, so I won’t look too old and out of it, to my gd! thanks for nice ideas, btw.

This is so me! Quick & easy, I have a gigantic stash of childrens prints (I have 6 grandchildren between the ages of 10 –> 6) and this design is uncomplicated. Your choice of colours are great as well. I trust you will have years of enjoyment with this beautiful quilt!! Thankyou so much for sharing your lovely quilt & tutorial with us all.

Ahhhhhhh, Help! First, thanks for the tutorial!! Now, for my exasperation…I found a blog site from a lady from Michigan who was doing one of these quilts. I loved the colors she had chosen. She had photos taking in her sewing room and in this sewing room she had large patio doors or large windows behind her sewing area. After seeing this blog and wanting to save it –MY COMPUTER CRASHED. Ugh! Are one of you posters this woman from Michigan? If you are, can you please email me with your blogsite? Making the sign of the cross…Thank you!

So I made this quilt top… not thinking about matching up some of the other “white” trim… UGH!.. I didn’t realize I needed to until the quilt top was finished.. So I will not be posting a picture of it.. LOL I just hope the girl receiving it doesn’t see all the mistakes… I used Dr Seuss material…

Ashley, I’m mapping out a plan for my upcoming Rectangle Squared quilt, and I’m a little confused about the measurements in your diagram. You say the block will be 7×7. But I’m getting that 3.25 + 3.25 + 1.5 = 8. Am I not accounting for the seam allowance? Or is there something I’m missing?

I see this math issue as well. the long strip says 7″ so that means with a 1/4 seam , it would end 6.5 inches long and the two square blocks add up to 8 inches. Can you clarify what the dimentions are for each block and clarify it this is the cut size or the finished size?

You’re so generous to supply the tutorial. I was going to ask if there was a pattern available. Thanks again. I have 18 fatts of Bonnie & Camille’s last fabric line, Modern something calling my name – any idea how much white is needed?

LOVE it. If hadn’t of been for the competition I never would have seen your quilt. I am so happy that I looked and voted because your quilt is my favorite of EVERYTHING. I even had the pattern saved on my Pinterest board and now I am so going to order a load of white fabric to make this. I sure have enough stash to do this.

I too love this. Looks complicated but…as long as you “pay attention” to 1/4″ seams there is not a place where you have to match-up corners. Thanks for the lovely detailed tutorial, with pictures, which made it easy. I’m a beginning quilter but have looked at quilts, quilt books, and magazines for at least 30 years. I hand quilt but am a newby at piecing. I LOVE IT ALL, even the hard parts.

I’m in the process of making your square/rectangular quilt using my deceased mothers clothes. I want to thank you for having this on Pinterest, otherwise I would not have seen it. I must also add this is my first attempt at making a quilt. So again, thanks very much. When I’m finished it will mean the world to me. Betty Housh, south Louisiana

Thank you for sharing! I was planning to do a quilt for my grandson’s graduation. I saw one similar to this but no pattern. My friend found this and sent it to me. I’m going to make it with several different University of Texas prints, use black solid between the pieces and put an orange border on it!

could you please heeeeeelp me. i love this quilt and decided to give it a go. i have cut all my pieces to the sizes stated. and i’m sewing with a quarter inch foot.but but when i’m piecing the two square pieces and the 1 1/2 inch white piece to the rectangle my piece is to short.i have double checked i have cut proper sizes. i think it must be something to do with seem allowance sewing the squares but i’m using a quarter inch foot. please help i was really looking forward to making this quilt

i seem to be out an eighth of an inch on all my pieces when iv’e sewed all the pieces together.i would be very grateful if you could help.i am using a quarter inch foot so don’t understand what im doing wrong. thanks

Is it the three pièces that you sewed together that are shorter than the two longer strips?

If so, even if you use a quarter inch foot, it doesn’t mean you are actually sewing one quarter depending on your needle position. Measure your seam and look at where it is on the ruler. If it may simply be just slightly on the outside. You have to aim to do a scant quarter seam, so you want your stitches to be just a tad Inside of the quarter inch mark on your ruler. You can do this by adjusting your needle position. Google scant quarter seam and you can find a bunch of tutorials on the subject.

If you’ve only done one block, you can test this out. If you’ve already done a bunch of them and don’t want to unpick them, or that this is not the issue, you can sew your blocks together and then trim them all square. It will just make your quilt top a little smaller. If you really wanted it bigger, you can just add a border on the outside to make it bigger.

thank you so much stephanie. it is my 3 smaller pieces that is smaller than the 2 larger pieces. i measured the seem allowance with a ruler and it is slightly larger.i will have to work on that.thanks for the help myself and all the other new quilters appreciate the help. i wont give up on the blocks because your quilt looks lovely

Thanks for the compliment! If you’ve done several of them, you’ll be fine as long as you are consistent with those three pieces. Then you can just trim all of them up when you are done. I’m not a fan of trimming up, but it pretty much always makes blocks so much nicer to sew together!

Thanks for the compliment! If you’ve done several of them, you’ll be fine as long as you are consistent with those three pieces. Then you can just trim all of them up when you are done. I’m not a fan of trimming up, but it pretty much always makes blocks so much nicer to sew together!

Kindra, you can make it any size you want. Just take the finished block measurements and calculate how much you need. If yougoogle standard quilt measurements, you can easily figure out what size you would like to make. There are also some calculators on line that can help you measure how much fabric you need.